Salisbury's Todora Is On A Mission For State Title Wrestling

The Salisbury High School sophomore is going after a second District 11 Class AA wrestling championship this weekend with a zest he never exhibited last season.

As a freshman, Todora was undefeated until the 112-pound final of the PIAA Class AA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. A sluggish second period and a late stalling point were the main culprits in an 8-7 loss to then-junior Jared Daum of Susquenita, costing Todora a state title.

Todora was not his physical self in the finals, though, no matter how hard he tries to deny it. After taking a wicked shot to the nose in the semifinals, he wore a facemask for the finals - his first bout all year with a mask.

"His nose was pretty beat up," explained Salisbury head coach Glenn Schantz, who also was shrugging it off as an excuse. "I don't think it helped in the state finals. Whenever you have to do something different with your wrestling, and wearing a mask is a different feel . . . well, I don't want to take anything away from the other kid, but I don't think Lee was 100 percent."

Full strength or not, Todora came within one point of a state championship as a freshman.

There would be some devastating challenges in 1985-86, however.

Salisbury dropped its junior varsity program due to a lack of wrestlers, and that would mean less work, less fresh people for Todora to work against. Plus, the young man would have to wrestle against heavier, stronger kids.

Before Todora could even start dreaming about this season, though, the 16- year-old Falcon was subject to a bout with mononucleosis between soccer and wrestling seasons, then had to fight a strep throat for the first few weeks of the season.

His dream of an undefeated season ended in the finals of the ASD Wrestling Tournament, when he lost to Kutztown's highly talented senior, Troy Graff, in the 132-pound final by a 10-4 score.

Again, Todora was not at full strength; but again, he didn't even mention his illness as an excuse. "He was stronger," was the only phrase the youngster would use. Todora, who had gone 34-1 as a freshman, was suddenly 2-1 as a sophomore, and that's when something clicked.

"It has changed a lot," he says of his views on wrestling since the two losses. "You work harder. You want to get revenge. Daum is back; he's a senior, and I'm looking forward to meeting him. I have his picture in my bedroom, the one where he put me on my back, and I have it right in front of me when I lift (weights). I put that up after my loss to Graff."

Schantz has also seen a change in Todora's attitude, not that it wasn't good before, but it is even keener, more alert, now.

"If anything, I think the losses have made him more determined," his coach said. "I think, this year, he became more serious about wrestling. There's a bit of a difference from last year. Maturity is setting in.

"He's definitely a determined young man. He has some very clear goals and is willing to work toward them. A lot of kids say they have goals, but when it comes time to actually work at meeting those goals, well, all of a sudden, the goals change.

"With Lee, it's a little different. He doesn't just say, 'Yeah, I want to be a state champion.' He really wants it and is willing to put in that little extra."

Despite the lack of numbers at practice, Todora has found an excellent training partner in John Fidelibus, Salisbury's 132-pound hopeful in the District 11 Tournament. Fidelibus, like Todora, is 23-1, and had to wrestle up a weight or two for the good of the team.

The good of the team is over now that the championship season is here, and Todora feels that wrestling against the bigger guys all year has helped his attitude and desire.

"The kids were a bit big," Todora explained of his stint at 132, "but now it's a lot easier since I was wrestling the bigger kids early."

Todora's natural weight is "about 128," so it was little problem to make the 122 maximum for the 119-pound weight class.

Aside from 2 1/2 -hour wrestling practices, Todora also lifts weights for about an hour a day at home, but he's cut back on the lifting part "to give my muscles a chance to rest and to wrestle a lot more."

Schantz has seen progress in Todora, not only in attitude, but in wrestling skill.

"Last year as a freshman, he enjoyed himself a lot," Schantz said. "He was very talented and just testing what he felt comfortable with. This year, I've seen growth and I've seen him round himself out.

"The loss this year made him become more determined, a better wrestler. The loss in the state finals made him a little hungrier as well, because he's looking forward to being a champion since he wasn't last year.

"He's receptive in that he wants to be a complete wrestler. He does have a definite style, and we're working on adding to that style. He's adding more to his repertoire. He doesn't resist it, but there's no doubt he still goes after his favorite moves."

Todora is well aware that the district tournament is just the first step. "I don't know who will be in my weight class at districts, but I'll take it one step at a time," he said. "You don't really want to be cocky. I like to be quiet and think about my match."

It is that quiet repose, that subtle determination, that opponents will have to fear. Lee Todora, a Salisbury sophomore, has something he desires to prove.